Penn Valley, CA February 9, 2012 – Today longtime conservative North State Senator, Assemblyman, and Oral Surgeon Sam Aanestad announced he is officially running for the open 1st Congressional District being vacated by retiring Congressman Wally Herger.

Aanestad, who has represented most of this District over the past twelve years, has received a broad outpouring of support from Republican donors and activists.

"I'm running to join the conservatives in Congress fighting to cut spending and balance this budget," said Aanestad. "With a national debt that now stands at over fifteen trillion dollars, or nearly forty-nine thousand dollars for every single American, we are dangerously close to becoming like Greece. Every program, every agency, must be asked to make the hard cuts necessary to get our financial house in order. That's why I'm in this fight."

Aanestad, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who recently sold his longtime practice in Grass Valley, was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 to represent Northern California's 3rd District. He was then elected to the California State Senate for the 4th District in 2002, where he served until 2010, representing the greater North State region longer than any other candidate in this race.

Serving as Aanestad's campaign co-chairman will be Rep. Tom McClintock, a longtime friend and mentor who served with him in the Assembly.

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